ev 776

[Physicsgirl]

might as well start a thread on this week's ev. So, how's everyone doing? I got off to a blinding start and then ground to a halt after about 12 clues. Could someone confirm 10 as IMP(E)TRATION and explain the cryptic part for me? Thanks as ever! Hope you all had a nice weekend.

[crofter]

Thanks for that explanation MatydaLover. I hadn't realised that there was an abbreviation for STEAMER.

All links to SQRT 5 apart, the result that the first 36 natural numbers sum to 666 was new to me. Thereafter, Mango had to conjure up a symmetric crossword grid with 36 unique entry points! Quite awesome!

[novalis]

You turn your back on a thread for a day and it becomes a very entertaining novel!!!
Totally agree with the sentiments above regarding this crossword in particular and EVs in general.
Happy solving to all EVers who have contributed to the above.

[kettledrum]

I wish I'd seen this link earlier. It would have saved me a lot of trouble with the maths!

[Physicsgirl]

and I guess that's all for this week. Join us next week for another exciting installment in the "how to solve EV" series. When I first started I would never dream of being able to finish such an awesome puzzle. Thanks for the tutorial, folks, and your kind patience as ever.

[Physicsgirl]

Browsing through the science section I found this question

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Science/Questio n455198.html

to which one of the answers must surely be "to make cryptic crosswords even more interesting, on occasion".
However, I can't believe that someone asked this question! Perhaps MatyDalover would like to post an answer to it?

[MatydaLover]

Thanks Physicsgirl, having read the post I think I like your idea the best! Mathematics is everywhere, even in a simple pastime (Did I say simple ??)

It was an interesting thread, with I think a lot of polite tolerance. If someone is holding a remote control and wonders if mathematics has any purpose ... how do you begin to explain?

They have in their hand an embodiment of millions of people devoting their lives to learning and discovery - this has been going on even before someone put a big stone on a couple of logs ... if you can't stand back and wonder, I think you need to get out more.

I'd love to go on about this in real depth, but I'm at work so a bit limited. Here's something that might help sum it all up ...

"Space is empty there is nothing there." The reply is "Well, nothing is one number ... there you go, you've got two numbers already ...".

I wish I was the author ... but thanks to Dennis Morris of the Open University.

[Quizmonkey]

Another advanced cryptic ruined by (at least two) people who aren't up to the job; who make ridiculous wild guesses at answers; and who then have the nerve to claim "I've done it!". Pathetic.

[Physicsgirl]

As I am obviously one of the people you are referring to, please could I make the following points:-
1. If we choose to discuss our answers on this site it's our business
2. If people disagree with this they do not have to contribute
3. A discussion of answers hardly merits "ruining" a puzzle
4. I tend not to enter the competition, but complete the puzzle for the joy of learning how to
Please don't be so nasty, Quizmonkey. There's no need for it.